The weatherman is predicting storms all day. This is only the first day since the gardening season began in early April that we've been rained out. We've worked in the cold, wind, and drizzle of this chilly spring. Last Tuesday it was cold, and it rained too. So the other gardener I work with picked up planters from two of her clients and brought them to the nursery where I work. We planted over a dozen containers, and I mossed five of them. But today, I get to enjoy a rare day off. I don't think I've ever appreciated a stormy day more than I will today!
My schedule is getting a bit much to handle. With the growth of my gardening business exceeding my expectations, it's time to cut the two days a week I work with the other gardener and turn my attention to my own clients on those days. I'd worked for 13 days straight before crying 'uncle' and taking Sunday off to be at home, get the containers planted for my own garden, and spend time relaxing with my dear husband. Sunday was a picture-perfect day, and it felt wonderful to be at home. Below are a few pots and an extra coleus enjoying a moment of sunshine in the early afternoon before taking their places on the patio and short retaining wall surrounding our shade garden.
I've always appreciated a good thunderstorm, but until leaving Corporate America, it was never a reason to stay home from work. Today it is, and I intend to enjoy the heck out of being home. It feels so good I'm tempted to go outside and do a happy dance.
On second thought, maybe I'll dance inside today. . . Oh, the possibilities! I could read a book. I could take a hot bath. I could bake some brownies. I could curl up on the couch and stare out the window. The day is mine to enjoy. What I won't be doing: I won't be cleaning a closet, doing the laundry, washing a floor, or scrubbing the toilets - nothing that feels like work. On that you can depend!
We have rain here, too. Three inches during the night. We needed it. Here's hoping your day of rest will recreate you.
ReplyDeleteIt's so exciting that your business is really taking off. Sounds like you're going to enjoy your work-free day to the very fullest. So many delicious possibilities!
ReplyDeleteRest Well!
ReplyDeleteHope you feel really luxurious!
Esther
Well, garden girl, what did you do with your rainy day off? I really want to know!
ReplyDeleteGail
Wow Barbee', that's a lotta rain! We needed the rain too, and I needed the rest!
ReplyDeleteAmy, it's very exciting. I didn't know what to expect with the economy being what it is. I feel fortunate that gardeners are still in demand in spite of the economy.
Esther, thanks - I did! It looks like more rain today, but it's a nursery day, and they are open rain or shine. So back to work I go today!
Gail, I did some reading, did some staring out the window, and then the rain stopped. I heard my own garden calling me, so I spent the rest of the day playing in it and getting a little work done too. Almost everything got a dose of some nice, smelly organic fertilizer. I got so engaged in what I was doing, I forgot to pick up my husband from the train! I'm glad he didn't have to walk home in the rain. Fortunately it's not a terribly long walk.
That is a wonderful day and so completely understandable...sometimes I forget to eat when I am in the garden...he sounds like a good man!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got a day off to enjoy yourself--you needed it!
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping, though, the thunderstorms stop--we've had far too much rain in a short amount of time here.
Rose, there's rarely too much rain in my shade garden. The maples see to that! I hope today's potential storms skip over your garden and land smack-dab in the middle of mine!
ReplyDeleteGail, it was wonderful to have an unexpected day off. I feel rejuvenated!
ReplyDeleteHe is! I felt bad he had to walk. His days are long and the job is stressful. Taking the train gets him home earlier than driving, and he gets to enjoy some extra time relaxing before bedtime. He was very understanding about my forgetfulness, bless his heart!
Hi Linda, congrats on the success of your business, but don't work yourself to a frazzle! You have to have enough energy to enjoy your own garden. A few pots???? That looks like a ton o' pots to me. Your patio is charming, even in the rain. Glad you had a staring out the window day, I love those too.
ReplyDeleteFrances
Hello - I'm new to your blog and have enjoyed reading it.
ReplyDeleteI've often wonderered what it would be like to leave Corporate America to follow a passion for gardening - but I would never have the gots (or know-how) to do. Bravo to you!
We are experiencing some much needed moisture here too - the gardens look good - except for those chewed up by rabbits :O(
Please check out my blog for any insights or tips - I'd love to hear your comments.
Beth
http://ndgardengirl.blogspot.com/
Wow .. you have really found your feet in your own business girl ! congratulations ! .. and you are right .. everyone needs a day to completely to themselves .. I intend to take that one tomorrow .. meanwhile the mountain of laundry is growling at me ? LOL
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time : )
Joy
I took your advice and am breathing. Your post saved me that day. I felt like that post was negative so I deleted it. I needed a new start and no negatives. But I did want you to know that you were right on with your advice and suggestions. I see you do that for yourself too.
ReplyDeleteYour patio looks awesome and all the pots look interesting. I'd like to see them all close up.
That's great about your business. It's cause you care so much. Your customers see that in you. I bet they are sad to see you go at your other place.
WE need rain so badly. It looks hot and humid outside now--so maybe it will rain. I'm unpacking boxes. I'm loving it though. Discovering stuff I forgot I had.
A few pots? What do you consider a lot? :^D I'm glad the rain gave you a chance to relax - you deserve it!
ReplyDeleteThank you Frances! It's very gratifying to have the business progressing so well. I will always make time for my own garden. Last year, my husband marveled at times about how I could spend all day tending other people's plants at the nursery and for gardening clients, then come home and play in my own garden in the evenings and on the weekends. I never get sick of being in the garden, whether it's my own or someone else's.
ReplyDeleteBeth, since my job was eliminated in August 2006 after the wonderful company I had worked for was bought out, the choice to leave was made for me. I simply chose, after a lot of agonizing, not to return to a corporate job, at least for now. I was an HR manager, and I loved my work, but didn't love the stress of working for the new company, which seemed to care only about the bottom line, literally worked people to the point of exhaustion, injury, and serious illness - chewed people up and spit them out. I care too much about people to be a part of that, and as a small cog in a big machine, there was only so much I could do. Now I feel much more in control of my own destiny. Being as busy as I am is stressful at times, but it's wonderful being my own boss, bringing beauty and happiness to others through their gardens, and thoroughly enjoying what I do.
Thanks Joy! I hope you enjoyed a relaxing day too. We all need to put aside our busy-ness every now and then to literally stop and smell the roses!
Anna, I'm so glad I it helped. It's amazing what a difference being conscious of breathing, and mindful body relaxation can do in reducing the chemical and hormonal stress 'soup' that floods our bodies during those inevitable periods of stress we often face in our daily lives. The stress is still there, but we can learn to control how our bodies react to it with awareness and practice.
MMD, well. . . At last count I had just under 50 of them, including a few hanging baskets. Several of the pots are very small though. I like to line the low retaining wall that borders a short path to the lawn with the little ones. With this large yard and garden, it really doesn't seem like that much. The garden seems to swallow them up.
Most of my container plants were either overwintered or started from cuttings this year in my basement 'greenhouse' under the large grow light I bought last fall. And for the first time I used flats to fill them in instead of larger, more expensive plants. I'm experimenting with doing the containers 'on the cheap' this year. Time will tell how well that works. Right now, they look a bit sparse. I've gotten used to instant gratification with the containers, but that gets expensive!